Remembering Larry Russ



It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of 4-H Volunteer Larry Russ.  Larry passed away at his home, surrounded by family, on Sunday, August 24th.  

  Larry has been a volunteer with Robeson County 4-H for more than 20 years.  In that time he has been the leader of the Dirty Dozen Shooting Sports 4-H Club, a co-leader of the Dirty Rascals JMG Club, and Hunter Safety Education volunteer with NC Wildlife commission, which allowed him to teach Hunter Safety classses at our office, a requirement for folks getting their huting license.  What he may be most remembered for are his talents behind the grill.  He could often be found at summer camps, volunteer trainings, and other events cooking up delectable treats from hamburgers and hot dogs to chicken and even the occasional turkey.  One of his favorite events to cook for was the Farmer's Market Summer Extravaganza where he would work with the Cooperative Extension staff to create wonderful samplings of locally grown foods for folks to try and buy.

Larry was the 2017 Robeson County 4-H Volunteer of the Year.  Over his career he won a variety of district and state awards.  He would be the first to tell you the awards are nice but he was most proud of the shooting sports club that he started and all that our youth had the opportunity to accomplish as part of it.  He enjoyed rebuilding the town of Fairmont's Firing Range so that the youth would have a place to shoot and put great thought into expanding the ranges capabilities to include an Archery range.  Working with one of his club members who was also a Boy Scout, Larry was able to draw up plans and have shelters built as part of his Eagle Scout Project making the range  more weather friendly for all the folks who use it.  He also worked with another parent to bury phone poles in the ground to create a safe area for shooting and parking.  All the improvements, mowing, and storage, were taken care of out of his pocket for the entire time the club existed.  He never told anyone and didn't want parents or youth having to foot that bill to have a safe place to learn the responsibility of firearms.

   Larry became a volunteer to spend a little more time with our 4-H Agent, Shea Ann DeJarnette, and understand what she does a little better.  They started a friendship that grew into a 20 year romance getting engaged in 2006.  He was by her side helping her create and build a variety of projects and keeping her upright during the fair.  He even became a Friend of the Fair to make sure he could be by her side during the busiest of times.  Larry and Shea Ann were each other's support system through the day to day adventures of their jobs and through the toughest of times.

  Larry is also survived by his mother, 4-H volunteer Joyce Russ.  Joyce has served as a judge for a variety of events, her favorite is County Activity Day, and she has enjoyed attending a variety of 4-H volunteer trainings.  She has also volunteered at our Extension office answering phones when our staff was scheduled out of the office.  

Larry's straight forward attitude, ability to help in any situation, and being an unknowing male role model will be just part of his legacy.  He and his contributions will be greatly missed.  Please click this link to see his full obituary and the schedule for services.  We ask that you keep his family in your prayers during this difficult time.  

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